Split Personality (Cassidy album)
Split Personality is the debut studio album by American rapper Cassidy. It was released on March 16, 2004, by Full Surface, with manufacturing and distribution from J. The album debuted at number 2 on the US Billboard 200, selling 118,000 copies in its first week. To date, the album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for the shipments of 500,000 copies in the United States.[3]
Split Personality | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | March 16, 2004 | |||
Recorded | 2003 | |||
Genre | East Coast hip hop | |||
Label | Full Surface, J | |||
Producer | Swizz Beatz, J. Brown, Felli Fel, Nottz, V. Flowers, Neo Da Matrix, Rockwilder | |||
Cassidy chronology | ||||
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Singles from Split Personality | ||||
Background and recording
Recording sessions for the album began in 2003. The album was broken down into three parts. The first part of the record (credited as "Cassidy") was more pop and radio friendly, with records such as "Get No Better" and the R. Kelly assisted lead single "Hotel". The second part of the record (credited as "The Problem") was targeted directly towards Cassidy's fans, who began to support him following his appearances on various mixtapes, with songs such as "Blood Pressure" and "The Problem". The third and final part of the record (credited to "B. Reese") was more introspective and aimed towards his fans who have supported him since his early days of his rap career with "Husslin'" and "Real Talk".[4]
Singles
The album's lead single, "Hotel" featuring American R&B singer-songwriter R. Kelly, was created during recording sessions at Kelly's Chicago studio "The Chocolate Factory". R. Kelly also appears on the official remix to "Hotel", with guest vocals from American rapper Trina. The song was a hit and reached the top ten on the US Billboard Hot 100, as of February 2004. The song was also nominated for a Vibe Award for the "Coolest Collabo" in 2004.[5] The album's second single, "Get No Better", features guest appearances from then label-mate Contemporary R&B singer Mashonda, as well as vocals from label owner and mentor Swizz Beatz. While the song did not do as well on the singles charts as "Hotel", it did reach number 82 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It was followed up by a music video, which features Vida Guerra as the lead female. songs "Take It" and "Make You Scream Pt.2" were also recorded during the Split Personality sessions but were eventually scrapped and later used only as official promotional singles from the album.[6][7]
Critical response
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [8] |
Blender | [9] |
RapReviews | [10] |
Vibe | [11] |
USA Today | [12] |
AllMusic described the album as "a minor disappointment while simultaneously showing promise". Its review considered the first third of the album as the disappointing section and the best tracks to be "Hotel", "Can I Talk to You" and "Real Talk".
Track listing
Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.[13]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "My Interpretation" | Felli Fel | 3:08 | |
2. | "Hotel" (featuring R. Kelly) | Swizz Beatz | 4:06 | |
3. | "Lipstick" (featuring Jazze Pha) |
| Swizz Beatz | 3:45 |
4. | "Get No Better" (featuring Mashonda) |
| Swizz Beatz | 3:54 |
5. | "Make U Scream" (featuring Snoop Dogg) |
| Swizz Beatz | 4:03 |
6. | "Tha Problem" (skit) | 1:18 | ||
7. | "Tha Problem" | Swizz Beatz | 3:50 | |
8. | "Pop That Cannon" (featuring Styles P) |
| Swizz Beatz | 4:10 |
9. | "Blood Pressure" |
| J. Brown | 3:32 |
10. | "Can I Talk to You" (featuring Jadakiss) |
| V. Flowers | 4:26 |
11. | "Real Talk / Skit" (featuring Swizz Beatz) | 1:05 | ||
12. | "Real Talk" | Nottz | 4:36 | |
13. | "Husslin'" |
| Swizz Beatz | 3:13 |
14. | "I'm Hungry" |
| Rockwilder | 3:53 |
15. | "Around Tha World" | Neo da Matrix | 4:13 | |
16. | "Hotel (Vacation Remix)" (featuring R. Kelly and Trina) (Bonus track) |
| Swizz Beatz | 5:46 |
Total length: | 58:58 |
Sample credits[13]
- "Hotel" contains a replayed elements from "Rapper's Delight", written and performed by Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers.
- "Make U Scream" contains excerpts from "What's a Telephone Bill?", written by William Earl Collins, Gary Lee Cooper, and George Clinton, Jr., as performed by Bootsy's Rubber Band.
- "Tha Problem" contains excerpts from "Terminator X to the Edge of Panic", written by Norman Rogers, William Drayton, and Carl Ridenhour, as performed by Public Enemy.
- "Real Talk" contains excerpts from "Back Against The Wall", written and performed by Curtis Mayfield.
- "Husslin'" contains excerpts from "Aquarius", written by Galt MacDermot, James Rado, and Gerome Ragni, as performed by Honey Cone.
- "I'm Hungry" contains excerpts from "Public Enemy #1", written by Carl Ridenhour and Hank Shocklee, as performed by Public Enemy.
- "Around Tha World" contains excerpts from "We've Got a Good Thing Going", written by Berry Gordy, Alphonso Mizell, Dennis Lussier, and Frederick Perren, as performed by Michael Jackson.
Chart positions
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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References
- "Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1523. September 26, 2003. p. 18.
- "Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1550. April 9, 2004. p. 20.
- "Gold & Platinum". RIAA.
- "VH1.com : Cassidy : Cassidy Says R. Kelly Was Unplanned Guest In His 'Hotel'". www.vh1.com. Archived from the original on April 9, 2004.
- "Vibe Awards". Archived from the original on November 10, 2007.
- http://www.juno.co.uk/ppps/products/155108-01.htm%5B%5D
- "Cassidy Take It". Archived from the original on December 19, 2021 – via YouTube.
- AllMusic review
- Ryan, Chris (May 2004). "Cassidy: Split Personality". Blender. p. 119.
- "RapReviews.com Feature for March 16, 2004 – Cassidy's "Split Personality"". rapreviews.com.
- Group, Vibe Media (March 23, 2004). "Vibe" – via Google Books.
- "USATODAY.com – Cassidy raps; Van Hunt riffs". USA Today.
- Split Personality (booklet). Full Surface, J. 2004.
- "Albums : Top 100". Jam!. April 1, 2004. Archived from the original on December 10, 2004. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
- "R&B : Top 50". Jam!. April 15, 2004. Archived from the original on April 22, 2004. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
- "Cassidy Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
- "Cassidy Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
- "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2004". Billboard. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
- "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2004". Billboard. Retrieved September 15, 2020.